Wall clamp for temporary structures



March 22, 1960 w. H. TYLER ETAL WALL cum? FOR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES Filed April so, 1958 Walter Harry Tyler Alb/nus A. Trosin 1N VEN TOR WALL or. non TEMPORARY STRUCTURES Waiter Harry Tyler, Los Angeles, and Albinus A. Trosin, Studio City, Calif.

Application April 30, 1958, Serial No. 731,975

2 Claims. (Cl. 144-293) This invention relates generally to temporary clamps, and more particularly to a wall clamp for temporary structures.

The clamps comprising the present invention will find a wide field of use in the assembly of television and stage sets which are usually constructed of a frame covered with Masonite, or some other type of surface material. These clamps would hold the frame sections together both at the corners and along the length, so that there is no need for nailing the sections together, as was the case heretofore in the art, which resulted in the sets and frames being badly marred and damaged so that the life thereof was accordingly shortened. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide clamps which may be used to hold the sections of television and stage sets together in such a manner as not to mar or any way damage the sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide clamps which may be locked in an over center relation so that the sets will be firmly locked together until it is desired that they be disassembled.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a corner clamp wherein the two sections forming the corner may be simultaneously and firmly clamped into proper position.

This invention is an improvement over Patent No. 2,620,839, which also pertains to a wall clamp for temporary structures.

However, in this patent, there are no means provided for simultaneously locking the corner sections together. Furthermore, the above mentioned patent does not disclose a clamp which may be used for clamping together stage set sections which are coplanar.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

This invention contemplates the use of an angled anvil against which the beams of the stage set sections may abut. While in both embodiments illustrated in this application the anvil is shown having a right angle, it is to be noted that we do not wish to limit ourselves to a right angle specifically, since any angle at all may be formed in the anvil and still remain within the spirit of this invention. In the corner clamp, the right angled anvil projects outwardly and the stage set section beams abut against the anvil and are disposed at right angles to each other, so that the finished surface of the stage set sections will form a corner. The clamps are pivoted on an extension of the anvil which is called a body portion in this specification, and these clamps are pivoted thereto and movable to a position wherein they oppose the anvil surfaces, so that the beams may be clamped between the clamp and the anvil. A linkage is provided so that upon movement thereof, the clamps may simul taneously be moved toward and away from the anvil surfaces. Furthermore, this linkage is provided with 2,929,422 Patented Mar. 22, 1960 links and levers which are so structurally related that when the clamps are holding the beams against the anvils, certain of the intermediate links will be in an over center relation, so that any force exerted on the clamps will not be sufficient to open them, but the clamps may only be opened by moving the actuating arm which controls the linkage system.

Another type of clamp is provided wherein a recessed right angular anvil is disposed on the anvil body portion and the beams may abut against each other as well as the anvil surfaces, so that when these beams are clamped, the finished surfaces of the stage set sections will be coplanar. In this device, only a single clamp is used with a simpler type of linkage system.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the clamp and sections shown in horizontal section, with the sections being slightly spaced from the-clamp;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the clamp in a position whereby the sections are fastened to form a corner structure;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the corner clamp comprisingthe present invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the simple clamp which is used to join the Wall sections; and

Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 4, illustrating the clamp holding the sections together.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the wall clamp comprising the present invention. This clamp, as may be seen in Figures 1 through 3, is designed exclusively for forming corners and the like in stage sets. Another type of clamp designated generally by numeral 12, and may seen in Figures 4 and '5, is used more particularly for forming a straight wall out of stage set sections which may be locked together thereby. V

The corner clamp 10, is constructed of an angulated anvil l4which has anvil surfaces 16 vand 18 thereon, which are disposed in right angle adjoining relation to each other, but may be disposed at'any angle desired. A body portion 20 extends from said anvil, and is constructed of a substantially rectangular fiat plate 22, which is integral with the anvil l4, and has projecting extensions 24 on both sides of said anvil, at diagonally opposite .corners of the plate 22 which form notched out portions when considered with the anvil surfaces 16 and 18. Actually, the plate 22 is notched out at adjoining edges to form the extensions 24 and the anvil surfaces at right angles to each other and to the extensions.

Clamps 28 are pivotally connected to extensions 24 as at 26. The clamps 28 are levers which have a clamping foot 30 at one end, an interconnecting portion 32, and a triangular shaped body portion 34 at the other end. The pivotal connection 26 is disposed at one end of the triangular shaped body portion 34 which is adjacent the point where interconnecting portion 32 is located. At the other end of body portion 34, a link 36 is pivotally connected as at 38.

A bell crank hand lever 40, having an actuating handle 42, and an angled portion 44, is pivotally connected as at 46 to the medial portion of plate 22. One of the links 36 is connected to the outer region of angled portion 44 as at 48, and another of the links 36 is connected as at 50 to the inner region of angled portion 44.

The stage sections are constructed of sheets of Masonite 52 or other types of finished surfaces, which are reinmam forced andheld together by horizontal members 54, and vertical beams 56. It is these beams 56 which are to befastened together bythe corner clamp. In Figure lit may be seen that the beams '56 are closely adjacent -the anvil surfaces, and when in this position, the actuating'handle42 is moved counterclockwise as viewed in Figures 1 through 3 and it may be seen that this will have the effect of clamping the beams 56 between the clamp feet 30 and the anvil surfaces 16 and 18, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 2. It is to be noted that when theclamp is in the'position illustrated in Figure 2, the clamp feet 30 may not be moved out of *the position by any force which is exerted by the beams on the clamps 28, becauseof the fact that the links 36 are in an over center relationship. Thus, any time an outward force is exerted on the clamp feet 30, tending to move them away from the beams 56, it may be seen that the links 36 will tend to pivot angulated portion 44 counterclockwise as viewed in the figures, especially Figure 2, and will thus tend'tokee the clamp in its locked position, which may be unlocked only by movement of the actuating handle 42. A stop 58 is fixed to plate 22and projectsupwardly therefrom, acting as a stop, limiting open and closed position for the bell crank lever 40.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, it may be seen that the wall clamp 12 is illustrated. This clamp is constructed of a plate 122, having a notched out portion in one corner thereof, which provides anvil surfaces 118 and 116 which are disposed at right angles to each other. A clamp 128 is pivotally connected to plate 122, and opposes the anvil surface 118.

This clamp has a clamping foot 130 on the outer end thereof, with an interconnecting portion 132 disposed between the clamp foot 130 and a triangular shaped clamp body portion 134, which is pivoted at 126 to plate 122.

The free or unpivoted end of triangular shaped body portion 134 is pivoted as at 138 to a link 136 which is in turn connected to a lever 140. Lever 140 has an actuating handle portion 142 and is pivoted as at 146 to the plate 122. One end of this lever 144 has apivotal connection 148 thereon, whereby the link .136 is pivoted to lever 140.,

The stage set sections are constructed of a Masonite or'some other surface 152 which is supported by horizontal. members 154 and vertical beams 156. In use, the beams 1156 would beconfronting each other and disposed within the notch formed by the anvil surfaces 116 and 118- Then, by moving actuatinghandle 142 counterclockwise, the clamp will assume the position illustrated in Figure 5, whereby the wall sections are moved together into abutting relation so asto form a continuous coplanar 'wall, for stage or television sets. The clamp of Figures 4 and 5 does not lock and may be removed after the wall sections are moved into abutting relation.

It may now be seen that we have herein shown and described a new and improved type of Wall clamp for temporary structures, which may be used for wall structures or corner structures, the corner structure clamp having its clamping elements moved simultaneously into a clamping position. p

The foregoing is considered as'illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,'and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A clamp comprising a substantially rectangular plate having notched adjoining edges forming a pair of extensions at diagonally opposite corners of the plate and a pair of right angled right angularly reiated anvil surfaces for supporting a pair of beams of a Wall structure at right angles to each other, a clamp lever pivoted intermediate its ends on each of said extensions for swinging into and from clamping relation to said anvil surfaces, at hand lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said plate for swinging in opposite directions respectively, and a pair of links terminally pivoted to corresponding ends of said clamp levers and to said hand lever at opposite sidesof the pivot of said hand lever for swinging of said clamp levers into and from clamping relation to said anvil surfaces in response to swinging of said hand lever in opposite directions respectively.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 including a stop on said plate limiting'swinging of the hand lever selectively in both directions, the pivots of the links to the clamp levers swinging into past dead center relation to the pivot of said hand lever and to the pivots of the links to the hand lever to lock said clamp levers in clamping relation when the hand lever is swung in one direction and limiting swinging of the hand lever in the opposite direction when said clamp levers are unclamped.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kelly Nov. 11, 

